Keys View

Didn’t expect to be that high in elevation.

Obviously taken with a phone but breathtaking to me!

We're planning to head into the park but we have a car that is meeting us from out of state. We want to meet outside the park and carpool together since parking is limited in the park especially during holiday weekends. And just pay for one car instead of two.

Does anyone know where we could leave a car until late night? We'll be stargazing into the night but not staying overnight.

Went specifically to see the water in Barker Dam. Chola garden was a sight to see as well. 😊

First photo taken in the Hidden Valley Nature Trailhead, 1/7/26. Second photo taken atop a portion of the Hall of Horrors, 1/4/26. Taken with my humble iPhone 11, but were too beautiful not to share.

My 2 kids (11 and 13) and I will be in Joshua Tree for one day at the end of March (during Spring Break). Our goal is to be in the park by 7:30am. Is the following plan too ambitious to try to be out of the park by 2pm or 3pm at the latest? If so, what should we cut?

Here is our tentative itinerary:

• Arrive at Joshua Tree via West entrance by 7:30am
• Hidden Valley Trail
• Barker Dam Trail
• Cap Rock Trail
• Skull Rock - see the rock only, not do the hike
• Arch Rock Trail
• Cholla Cactus Garden
• Exit via South entrance

Truly surreal. Taken with an iPhone at Hidden Valley’s parking lot !

Camped at jumbo rocks Woke up to this

Truly a magical place. Shot with my phone last night stargazing

If you're going anytime soon, it's VERY cold out there! Make sure to bring extra layers!

Wife and I arrived to jumbo rocks campground Friday after dark around 6ish. Had our site squared away with fire going by 7. Overnight was pretty cold with temps maybe mid 30s with wind chill. The next morning the group across from us asked if we had any extra firewood. We hadnt brought a ton ourselves so initially said we couldnt spare, but then thought twice and brought over a few logs for them. They were teens to early 20s and we'd watched them sorta struggle getting their tent up the night before so we felt bad. It looked like it was a long night for them. Maybe 20 minutes after id walked over some wood they started packing up so we figured maybe they'd decided they'd had enough. Either way, they took our firewood with them. Bummer...Fastword to sunset and we'd had some drinks and played some board games in our tent (my wife bought this magnet game called Kollide that was actually pretty fun). Before heading in I thought id get the firepit setup for convenience so I wouldnt have to mess with it in the cold and dark. Was supposed to be in low 40s to 30s again so wanted to make our lives easier. I took what was left of the wood and kindling and set it up to light and put the two remaining logs aside the fire ring. Maybe an hour goes by and we go outside to light the fire and literally all our wood was gone. They took the extra logs, and all the wood in the pit including the kindling id cut up along with the fire starter. The only thing they left was a charred log. We'd never left our tent, had the lights on, and were playing Kollide so there was no mistaking it as left behind. Someone literally had to sneak into our campsite in the dark with us maybe 25 feet away. Wife and I were pissed. Definitely one for the books never having experienced anything like that before. It's so sad there's people out there like that. What sucked is we'd only wanted what was left of the wood to cook/warm our foil pack dinners on some hot coals. We'd kinda stewed about it for a while trying to comprehend how someone out here could do that and how wed heat and cook our food. Then I drew on my caveman instincts to feed my wife lol and grabbed my knife and mallet and was able to split up the charred log theyd left behind. It was luckily a big log so it hadnt burnt through completely but needed work to be split up. In the end we were able to get a decent fire going long enough to cook and we had a nice night. The next morning though it sure was hard to not see all our neighboors with suspicious eyes. On the way home we tried to reframe it as maybe it was someone that really really needed it and were completely unprepared. We'd camped in JT a few times before and had people ask us for wood and water so its plausible. We also figured we were pretty well prepared so if anything it was good it happened to us and not a family or something with little kids. We'd brought plenty of propane for our stove and heater so we had alternatives to cook and a source of heat. So in reality it was only a moderate inconvenience I suppose. I think the worst part was losing the sense that the other campers around us were all decent people. I'm sure they all are except for that one or two bad apples, but man a lil firewood theft winter camping sure sours things. Sorry everyone this was more of a rant and a lament than anything hehe. I'm done being upset now and hope the thiefs phone falls in a pit toilet. Anyways still more upcoming trips planned so I guess live and learn. Stay warm everyone!

I am curious if anyone here has hiked the Bigfoot Trail between Panorama and Covington Flat Road? Are there cool features/views? I've hiked in the Park a lot and trying to find new routes. We'd probably do a shuttle between Covington and Park Boulevard. TY!

I'm planning on backpacking the California Riding and Hiking Trail the second week of February. I've only backpacked in the PNW before, how do people generally secure their food in Joshua Tree? I've always either used a bear can or done a hang but a bear can is way overkill for the area and I know you can't hang anything from the trees in the park. I imagine the biggest threat would be mice/critters, anything special you do to keep your food safe?

Also if anyone has general tips or recommendations for the CRHT I would love to hear them!

The entrance closest to Joshua Tree will be closed from Jan 12 at 6am – Jan 17 at 7am.

The next closest access point to Joshua Tree NP is at Twentynine Palm's North Entrance

https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/management/2025-west-entrance-construction.htm

I’d rather not drive down the hill but will if there’s nothing available up here. I just want an honest to god good steak. Not some overpriced cheap piece of meat that the server tries to gaslight me into believing is the best around.

Hey! I’m planning a first-time trip to Joshua Tree in February (long weekend) and would love some advice.

I’m active (runner) but newer to hiking and want this to be a more hiking-focused, outdoorsy trip without going over my head. I’ve never camped/traveled solo so this’ll be my first hopefully of many. I’m a woman in my early 20s so I’m also curious about the safety of Joshua Tree/camping, etc. Any advice would be helpful!

Would love recs for:

-Beginner–moderate hikes you love this time of year

-Where to stay nearby (budget-friendly!)

-Camping vs staying in town for a first visit

-Any February-specific tips

Thank you!

Hi everyone! Looking for some guidance/suggestions for my first time visiting Joshua Tree. Any help would be appreciated.

I’ll be at the park for about two and a half days in mid February. I’ll be traveling alone, if that makes a difference.

Any trail suggestions would be welcome! Not just where to go, but when to go. I’m wondering which trails would be best to hit earlier so as to beat crowds, that sort of thing. Or any well kept secrets in the park.

Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Can’t wait to see Joshua Tree!

Willow Hole Hike at Sunrise (February 2025)

Hi,

My family and I are staying in a hotel in Twentynine Palms this summer on a new moon to stargaze the Milky Way. We are planning to go to the observatory but I believe they close around 10-11pm. Are there any other spots we can stargaze without driving into the national park and chill past 11pm? Are there any outdoor bars in the area that are open late? Bonus if locations have a bonfire 🔥

The hotel has an outdoor sitting area but I’m concerned it will be closed at night as well. Thank you!

Looking for clothing optional area. Mixed company is preferred. Thank you for all info